Detroit Leadership Academy K8

Summary:

Detroit Leadership Academy K8 is a public charter elementary and middle school serving 453 students in grades PK-8 in Detroit, Michigan, which is part of the Detroit Public Schools Community District.

The school's student population is predominantly African American (98.45%), and it faces significant academic challenges, with proficiency rates well below the state average across multiple grade levels and subject areas. For example, in 2023-2024, only 28.6% of 4th graders, 7.5% of 6th graders, and 21.4% of 7th graders were proficient or better in English Language Arts, compared to the state averages of 43.3%, 37.5%, and 37.9%, respectively. The school also struggles with high rates of chronic absenteeism, reaching 73.0% in the 2021-2022 school year. Additionally, 97.79% of the students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, indicating a high level of economic disadvantage among the student population.

When compared to nearby schools, such as Jane Addams Elementary School, Vandenberg Elementary School, and Fisher Elementary School, Detroit Leadership Academy K8 generally performs worse academically. The school's chronic absenteeism rate is also significantly higher than these nearby schools. Despite the school's low academic performance, its spending per student ($12,111 in 2022-2023) is higher than the state average and the spending at some nearby schools, such as Jane Addams Elementary ($18,101) and Vandenberg Elementary ($18,860). The school also has a relatively high student-teacher ratio of 23.2 in 2022-2023, which is higher than the ratios at nearby schools.

Detail:

Public, Charter PK, KG-8

13550 Virgil St
Detroit, MI 48223

(313) 242-1500

District: Detroit Leadership Academy

SchoolDigger Rank:
1319^th of 1,486 Michigan Elementary Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures: $12,111

Student/teacher ratio: 23.2

Number of students: 453

Racial breakdown:

African American:

98.5%

White:

0.7%

Two or more races:

0.7%

Free/discounted lunch recipients: 97.8%

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Performance Trends

Compare Details Detroit Leadership Academy K8 ranks worse than 88.8% of elementary schools in Michigan. (See more...)

Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 11.58. (See more...)

Compare Details Detroit Leadership Academy K8 ranks worse than 94.4% of middle schools in Michigan. (See more...)

Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 8.14. (See more...)

Chronic absenteeism in a school refers to a situation where students repeatedly miss school, with the threshold often defined as missing 10% or more of school days for any reason, excused or unexcused.

Student Body

Compare Details Racial makeup is: African American (98.5%), two or more races (0.7%), White (0.7%). (See more...)

Compare Details 97.8% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. (See more...)

Teachers

Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at Detroit Leadership Academy K8 is 23.2. (See more...)

Compare Detroit Leadership Academy K8 employs 19.5 full-time teachers.

Finance

Compare Details The average total spent per student at Detroit Leadership Academy K8 is $12,111.

Schooldigger 2024 Rankings:

Detroit Leadership Academy K8:

SchoolDigger ranks Detroit Leadership Academy K8 1319^th of 1486 Michigan public elementary schools. (See Detroit Leadership Academy K8 in the ranking list.)

Elementary School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:

Low Socio Economic Status students:

African American students:

SchoolDigger ranks Detroit Leadership Academy K8 847^th of 897 Michigan public middle schools. (See Detroit Leadership Academy K8 in the ranking list.)

Middle School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:

Low Socio Economic Status students:

African American students:

Detroit Leadership Academy:

SchoolDigger ranks Detroit Leadership Academy 583^rd of 610 Michigan school districts. (See district ranking list.)

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Rank History for Detroit Leadership Academy K8

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Rank History for all elementary school students at Detroit Leadership Academy K8

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	MI State Percentile
2013	4.81	1540^th	1563	1.5%
2014	5.43	1491^st	1533	2.7%
2015	9.16	1471^st	1580	6.9%
2016	6.48	1486^th	1548	4.0%
2017	5.27	1423^rd	1466	2.9%
2018	9.51	1370^th	1448	5.4%
2023	4.29	1458^th	1470	0.8%
2024	11.58	1319^th	1486	11.2%

See the entire list of Michigan Elementary School Rankings!

Rank History for elementary school Low Socio Economic Status students at Detroit Leadership Academy K8

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	MI State Percentile
2018	12.80	1290^th	1397	7.7%
2019	4.34	1123^rd	1134	1.0%
2023	5.52	1338^th	1350	0.9%
2024	16.06	1215^th	1381	12.0%

See the entire list of Best Michigan Elementary Schools for Low Socio Economic Status Students!

Rank History for elementary school Female students at Detroit Leadership Academy K8

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	MI State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2018	13.43	1284^th	1443	11.0%

See the entire list of Best Michigan Elementary Schools for Female Students!

Rank History for elementary school Male students at Detroit Leadership Academy K8

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	MI State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2018	8.68	1361^st	1446	5.9%

See the entire list of Best Michigan Elementary Schools for Male Students!

Rank History for elementary school African American students at Detroit Leadership Academy K8

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	MI State Percentile
2018	33.58	307^th	475	35.4%
2019	12.32	205^th	212	3.3%
2023	12.27	313^th	321	2.5%
2024	31.46	232^nd	348	33.3%

See the entire list of Best Michigan Elementary Schools for African American Students!

Data source: test scores: Michigan Department of Education, rankings: SchoolDigger.com

Rank History for Detroit Leadership Academy K8

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Rank History for all middle school students at Detroit Leadership Academy K8

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Middle Schools	MI State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2023	5.42	864^th	883	2.2%
2024	8.14	847^th	897	5.6%

See the entire list of Michigan Elementary School Rankings!

Rank History for middle school Low Socio Economic Status students at Detroit Leadership Academy K8

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Middle Schools	MI State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2023	6.57	807^th	825	2.2%
2024	11.04	782^nd	836	6.5%

See the entire list of Best Michigan Elementary Schools for Low Socio Economic Status Students!

Rank History for middle school African American students at Detroit Leadership Academy K8

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Middle Schools	MI State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2023	14.37	291^st	310	6.1%
2024	19.27	267^th	300	11.0%

See the entire list of Best Michigan Elementary Schools for African American Students!

Data source: test scores: Michigan Department of Education, rankings: SchoolDigger.com

As you review the school rankings data, please be aware that some of the information from certain demographics is missing. The reason for this omission is that the data has been redacted from the source data itself due to low population samples in these specific demographic groups.

Redacting data from low population samples is a necessary step to ensure the reliability and accuracy of the results, as small sample sizes may not be representative of the broader population. Additionally, this measure helps protect the privacy of individuals belonging to these demographic groups.

Data source: Michigan Department of Education

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Enrollment information for Detroit Leadership Academy K8

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Year	White	African American	Hispanic	Two or More Races	Total
2011	2	189	1	3	195
2012	0	288	2	4	294
2013	2	355	3	4	364
2014	0	265	2	5	272
2015	0	261	1	3	265
2016	1	290	1	5	297
2017	1	294	2	3	300
2018	4	290	2	3	299
2019	2	347	2	3	354
2020	1	415	2	6	424
2021	3	385	32	5	425
2022	2	454	4	2	462
2023	3	446	1	3	453

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Enrollment/Ethnicity

For more information about how the Department of Education defines ethnicity, see Defining Race and Ethnicity Data, National Center for Education Statistics

Students eligible for free or discounted lunch at Detroit Leadership Academy K8

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Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
2011	195	13.2	14.7	92.3
2012	294	17.2	17.0	97.3
2013	364	20.7	17.5	95.9
2014	272	19.7	13.7	96
2015	265	14.0	18.9	96.6
2016	297	16.0	18.5	97.6
2017	300	11.0	27.2	98.7
2018	299	10.0	29.9	96
2019	354	14.0	25.2	94.1
2020	424	18.0	23.5	94.1
2021	425	24.0	17.7	99.1
2022	462	22.0	21.0	98.1
2023	453	19.5	23.2	97.8

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Students eligible for discounted/free lunch:

The National School Lunch Program (NSLP) provides low-cost or free meals to students in U.S. public and nonprofit private schools based on household income. Those with incomes below 130% of the poverty line receive free lunch, while those between 130% and 185% qualify for reduced-price lunch. The percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch serves as a marker for poverty, as it reflects the socioeconomic status of families in a given school or district. A higher FRPL rate typically indicates a higher concentration of low-income families, suggesting that the school or district may face additional challenges in providing adequate resources and support for student success.

Student/Teacher Ratio Detroit Leadership Academy K8

Compare

Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
2011	195	13.2	14.7	92.3
2012	294	17.2	17.0	97.3
2013	364	20.7	17.5	95.9
2014	272	19.7	13.7	96
2015	265	14.0	18.9	96.6
2016	297	16.0	18.5	97.6
2017	300	11.0	27.2	98.7
2018	299	10.0	29.9	96
2019	354	14.0	25.2	94.1
2020	424	18.0	23.5	94.1
2021	425	24.0	17.7	99.1
2022	462	22.0	21.0	98.1
2023	453	19.5	23.2	97.8

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Student-Teacher Ratio

Student/teacher ratio is calculated by dividing the total number of students by the total number of full-time equivalent teachers. Please note that a smaller student/teacher ratio does not necessarily translate to smaller class size. In some instances, schools hire teachers part time, and some teachers are hired for specialized instruction with very small class sizes. These and other factors contribute to the student/teacher ratio. Note: For private schools, Student/teacher ratio may not include Pre-Kindergarten.

Finances

Per Pupil Expenditures for Detroit Leadership Academy K8

Year	Expenditures from Federal Funds	Expenditures from State and Local Funds	Total Expenditures Per Pupil (All Funds)
2019	$1,586 (9.1%)	$15,926 (90.9%)	$17,512
2020	$876 (7.7%)	$10,434 (92.3%)	$11,309
2021	$267 (2.8%)	$9,162 (97.2%)	$9,428
2022	$513 (3.8%)	$12,816 (96.2%)	$13,329
2023	$853 (7.0%)	$11,258 (93.0%)	$12,110

Data source: Michigan Department of Education

Pre and Post Pandemic Data

Impact of COVID-19 on Detroit Leadership Academy K8

The coronavirus has had a profound impact on education in America. Learning shifted online overnight, attendance numbers dwindled, and enrollment decreased. SchoolDigger.com is making it easier for you to better assess how COVID-19 has impacted your school. Through the collection of pre-pandemic (2019) and current data, SchoolDigger.com is sharing test scores, enrollment numbers and school demographics from schools across the country – and we make it easy to see how impacted schools compare locally and statewide.

Test Scores

	% proficient Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	% proficient Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
5th Grade English Language Arts (Detroit Leadership Academy K8)	13	6.5	6.5%
5th Grade English Language Arts (Detroit Leadership Academy)	13	6.5	6.5%
5th Grade English Language Arts (Michigan)	46.2	43.9	2.3%

Student Body

	Number of students Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	Number of students Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
Total Students	354	453	28%
African American	347	446	28.5%
American Indian	0	0
Asian	0	0
Hispanic	2	1	50%
Pacific Islander	0	0
White	2	3	50%
Two or More Races	3	3
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	94.1%	97.8%	3.7%

Schools Near Detroit Leadership Academy K8

Choose columns to see: Summary School Students/Teachers Ranking Test Scores Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2024)				Ranking (2023)				PSAT English Language Arts (2024)	PSAT Mathematics (2024)	M-Step English Language Arts (2024)					M-Step Math (2024)					M-Step Science (2024)		M-Step Social Studies (2024)		Per Pupil Expenditures (2023)
Name	Type	Grades	Address	City	Zip	County	District	Is Charter	Is Magnet	Is Virtual	Is Title I	Phone	Enrollment	Full-time Teachers	Student/ Teacher Ratio	Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2024)	Statewide Rank (2024)	State Percentile (2024)	SchoolDigger Rating (2024)	Average Standard Score (2023)	Statewide Rank (2023)	State Percentile (2023)	Rank Change from Previous Year	PSAT English Language Arts 8th Grade	PSAT Mathematics 8th Grade	M-Step English Language Arts 3rd Grade	M-Step English Language Arts 4th Grade	M-Step English Language Arts 5th Grade	M-Step English Language Arts 6th Grade	M-Step English Language Arts 7th Grade	M-Step Math 3rd Grade	M-Step Math 4th Grade	M-Step Math 5th Grade	M-Step Math 6th Grade	M-Step Math 7th Grade	M-Step Science 5th Grade	M-Step Science 8th Grade	M-Step Social Studies 5th Grade	M-Step Social Studies 8th Grade	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Detroit Leadership Academy K8	Public, Charter	PK, KG-8	13550 Virgil St	Detroit	48223	Wayne County	Detroit Leadership Academy	Yes	No	No	Yes	(313) 242-1500	453	20	23.2	97.8%	3 (0.7%)	446 (98.5%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (0.7%)	11.6	1319^th of 1486 public elementary schools	11.2%		4.3	1458^th of 1470 public elementary schools	0.8%	139	17.0	6.4		28.6		7.5	21.4		7.1					6.5			$12,111	$853	$11,258
WashingtonParks Academy	Public, Charter	K-8	11685 Appleton	Redford	48239	Wayne County	Washington-Parks Academy	Yes	No	No	Yes	(313) 592-6061	580	20	29.7	97.8%	0 (0.0%)	565 (97.4%)	2 (0.3%)	2 (0.3%)	5 (0.9%)	1 (0.2%)	5 (0.9%)	7.5	1402^nd of 1486 public elementary schools	5.7%		9.9	1317^th of 1470 public elementary schools	10.4%	85	31.1		8.8	12.9	6.8	19.0	18.6	7.1						20.0			$00	$00	$00
Detroit Community Schools Elementary	Public, Charter	PK, KG-8	12675 Burt Rd	Detroit	48223	Wayne County	Detroit Community Schools	Yes	No	No	Yes	(313) 537-3570	302	13	23.2	96.4%	0 (0.0%)	300 (99.3%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.3%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)								(n/a)	34.5						9.5										$00	$00	$00
Gompers ElementaryMiddle School	Public	PK, KG-8	14450 Burt Rd	Detroit	48223	Wayne County	Detroit Public Schools Community District	No	No	No	Yes	(313) 494-7495	838	44	19.0	91.1%	2 (0.2%)	821 (98.0%)	5 (0.6%)	1 (0.1%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.1%)	8 (1.0%)	4	1480^th of 1486 public elementary schools	0.4%		4.8	1450^th of 1470 public elementary schools	1.4%	30	20.3	5.1	3.9	4.4	9.6	7.5	12.0				4.6	5.4	4.8	13.4		35.8	$18,412	$6,781	$11,631
Fisher Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	10000 Crosley	Redford	48239	Wayne County	South Redford School District	No	No	No	Yes	(313) 532-2455	310	21	14.5	83.2%	27 (8.7%)	238 (76.8%)	19 (6.1%)	2 (0.6%)	2 (0.6%)	1 (0.3%)	21 (6.8%)	24	1105^th of 1486 public elementary schools	25.6%		36.6	899^th of 1470 public elementary schools	38.8%	206			25.4	40.3	38.0			18.6	18.1	18.0			28.0		6.0		$17,637	$1,721	$15,916
Jane Addams Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	14025 Berwyn	Redford	48239	Wayne County	South Redford School District	No	No	No	Yes	(313) 532-8064	297	19	15.6	68.4%	46 (15.5%)	208 (70.0%)	16 (5.4%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	26 (8.8%)	23.3	1116^th of 1486 public elementary schools	24.9%		26.2	1052^nd of 1470 public elementary schools	28.4%	64			26.8	38.2	22.6			36.6	25.5	15.1			15.1				$18,101	$2,487	$15,614
Vandenberg Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	24901 Cathedral	Redford	48239	Wayne County	South Redford School District	No	No	No	Yes	(313) 532-0300	279	20	13.9	82.4%	16 (5.7%)	250 (89.6%)	6 (2.2%)	3 (1.1%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.4%)	3 (1.1%)	23.3	1117^th of 1486 public elementary schools	24.8%		15.2	1232^nd of 1470 public elementary schools	16.2%	115			27.3	30.2	39.5			27.3	20.8	11.6			23.3				$18,860	$2,112	$16,748
Global Heights Academy	Public, Charter	PK, KG-8	23713 Joy Rd	Dearborn Heights	48127	Wayne County	Global Heights Academy	Yes	No	No	Yes	(313) 624-3400	252	14	18.6	100.0%	21 (8.3%)	218 (86.5%)	6 (2.4%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	7 (2.8%)	5.2	1459^th of 1486 public elementary schools	1.8%					(n/a)			8.8		11.4			11.8					8.6				$15,564	$5,529	$10,035
Mann Learning Community	Public	PK, KG-5	19625 Elmira St	Detroit	48228	Wayne County	Detroit Public Schools Community District	No	No	No	Yes	(313) 866-9580	335	20	16.9	95.5%	2 (0.6%)	331 (98.8%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	6.2	1435^th of 1486 public elementary schools	3.4%		6.3	1413^th of 1470 public elementary schools	3.9%	22			13.0	12.9	12.3			14.3	4.2								$22,550	$6,786	$15,764
Old Redford Academy Elementary	Public, Magnet, Charter	PK, KG-4	17195 Redford St	Detroit	48219	Wayne County	Old Redford Academy	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	(313) 532-7510	342	9	38.0	89.5%	0 (0.0%)	337 (98.5%)	5 (1.5%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	7.1	1413^th of 1486 public elementary schools	4.9%		5.5	1434^th of 1470 public elementary schools	2.4%	21			13.6	7.1				16.9	7.1								$13,001	$5,908	$7,093

Frequently Asked Questions about Detroit Leadership Academy K8

Is Detroit Leadership Academy K8 a good school?

Detroit Leadership Academy K8 ranks in the bottom 11.2% of Michigan elementary schools.

How many students attend Detroit Leadership Academy K8?

In the 2022-23 school year, 453 students attended Detroit Leadership Academy K8.

What is the racial makeup of Detroit Leadership Academy K8?

Students at Detroit Leadership Academy K8 are 98% African American.

What district is Detroit Leadership Academy K8 in?

Detroit Leadership Academy

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SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau and the Michigan Department of Education.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS: Not all boundaries are included. We make every effort to ensure that boundaries are up-to-date. But it's important to note that these are approximations and are for general informational purposes only. To verify legal descriptions of boundaries or school locations, contact your local tax assessor's office and/or school district.